disingenuous

[/ˌdɪsɪnˈdʒɛnjuəs/]
adjective
desonesto, falso, insincero
1. not candid or sincere; pretending to know less about something than one actually does
His claim that he didn't know about the scandal was disingenuous.
Sua afirmação de que não sabia sobre o escândalo foi desonesta.
2. intended to mislead or deceive
She gave a disingenuous apology that didn't address the real problem.
Ela fez um pedido de desculpas insincero que não abordou o problema real.
3. lacking genuine feeling; artificial
His disingenuous smile suggested he didn't believe what he was saying.
Seu sorriso falso sugeriu que ele não acreditava no que estava dizendo.
In American English, 'disingenuous' is frequently used in political discourse and social media to call out perceived insincerity. In Brazilian Portuguese, 'desonesto' carries similar weight but 'falso' is more colloquial. The term has become increasingly popular in modern English conversations about authenticity and transparency, reflecting contemporary cultural values around genuine communication.
NYC Slang
shady, phony, two-faced, full of it
Synonyms / Sinônimos
insinceredishonestdeceitfulduplicitousfalsehypocriticaltwo-facedcunning
Antonyms / Antônimos
genuinesincerehonestcandidforthrightauthentic

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
desonesto, falso, insincero
Most common translations used in formal and informal contexts
Portugal
desonesto, fingido, enganador
Similar usage but 'fingido' is more commonly used in European Portuguese
São Paulo
desonesto, falso, mentiroso
Urban usage tends toward more direct, colloquial terms
Rio de Janeiro
falso, duvidoso, malandragem
May reference 'malandragem' for cunning dishonesty in colloquial speech

Related Words

ingenuityingenuoussinceritycandordeceptiondishonestyhypocrisy

Related Idioms & Phrases

to wear one's heart on one's sleeve (antonym - being open and honest)
to play both sides of the fence
to talk out of both sides of one's mouth
dar uma de falso
fingir de santo
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